Friday, Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in as Tanzania's first female president after the sudden death of John Magufuli from an illness shrouded in mystery.

Dressed in black suit and red headscarf, she took the oath of office in Dar es Salaam before inspecting troops at a military parade and receiving a cannon salute.

"I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, promise to be honest and obey and protect the constitution of Tanzania."

Hassan will serve the remainder of Magufuli's second five-year term, which does not expire until 2025. She is the only other current serving female head of an African country alongside Ethiopia's President Sahle-Work Zewde.

Hailing from Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous island in the Indian Ocean, Hassan rose through the ranks over a 20-year political career from local government to the national assembly.

She was named Magufuli's running mate in the 2015 presidential campaign. The duo were re-elected in Oct. 2002, in a highly disputed poll marred by allegations of irregularities.

As a stalwart in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Hassan will have to consult the party about the appointment of a new vice president. However, analysts say she could face pressure from powerful from the previous president's allies within the CCM, who dominate intelligence and other critical aspects of government, and could attempt to influence her decisions.

Hassan was little known outside Tanzania until she appeared on state television Wednesday to announce the death of Magufuli, following a mysterious three-week absence and a heart condition.

Questions remain over the cause of his death however, after rumours stated that he had COVID-19 or had sought treatment abroad.